Improvement in muzzles for animals



H. 0. RICE. Muzzles for Animals.

No; 214.196. Patented April 8, 1879 NPETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER,WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HENRY C. RICE, OF FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUZZLES FOR ANIMALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent NO. 214.196, dated April 8,1879; application filed March 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, HENRY C. RICE, of Farmington, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Muzzles for Animals; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specification. I

My invention relates to an improvement in muzzles for animals; and itconsists in making the muzzle in two pieces and securing their innerends in a metallic frame, which unites them together, one of whichpieces is pivoted and provided with a sprin g-catch, so as to lock it inplace when closed, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention closed; and Fig. 2 is asimilar View of the same, partly in section showing it open.

a 0 represent the two end pieces of the muzzle, which are made of wood,and provided with the points 07, for catching in the calfs nose. Theinner end of the piece a is rigidly fastened in the metallic frame 6, sothat it cannot move, while the piece 0 is pivoted at its upper cornerupon the rivet g, so that it can swing partially around for the purposeof moving its point far enough away from the point on the piece a toallow the calfs nose to be inserted between them.

The piece 0 has fastened to its lower corner a spring-catch, a, whichsnaps into a hole, h, in the lower edge of the frame 0, and thus holdsthe piece 0 rigidly in place after it has been closed. In order to openthe muzzle it is only necessary to push the projecting catch up into theframe, when the piece 0 will at once swing back, and when the piece isclosed again the catch snaps back into its hole and locks the piece inplace.

This muzzle hangs down over the calfs mouth when the calf attempts tosuck; but when the calfs head is near the ground it swings outward farenough not to interfere with either eating or drinking.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- A calfs muzzle consistingof the two pieces a 0 and connecting-frame e, the piece 0 being pivotedin the frame, and having a catch, 2', to lock it in position,substantially as show 11.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this1st day of March, 1879.

HENRY C. RICE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS MCMANUS, PATRICK H. DALY, JOHN H. HALLIDAY.

